Dishwashing machine



April 12, 1927.-

P. E. BARKER DISHWASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shed.

Filed April 30. 1923 -192 12 7 P.- E. BARKER DISHWASHING MACHINE F iled April' so, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 927 P. E. BARKER DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed April 50,1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

.. UNITED STATES 1,624,380 PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY E. BARKER, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 0F ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR B. BETZ, OF SHAKER HEIGHTS VILLAGE, OHIO.

DISHWASHING MAGHIN E.

This invention relates to dish washing machines and more particularly to that type of machine in which the washing liquid is distributed over the dishes by passing air tributing or causing the flow of air both for agitating the washing liquid and for drying purposes, to provide simple and eifective rinsing means, to simplify and improve the racks or dish supporting devices, to improve the construction of the casing and the sealing means between the body and cover thereof, to provide an improved mounting for the operating motor, to provide means for determining the proper level of liquid, to provide an improved trap or inlet through which the airis admitted to agitate the liquid so as to uniformly distribute air throughout the washing chamber, to provide means for rinsing the air circulating passages and to provide improved valve means for regulating or controlling theair current.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

I n the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is aside elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is' alongitudinal sectional. elevation, the dish 'holding racks being omitted for simplicity of illustration; Fig. 4 is a plan view with the cover removed; Fig. 5' is .a trans\"erse sectional elevation on the line 5-5, Fig. 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on a larger scale on the line 6-6, Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is-a longitudinal section through the rinsing pipe; Fig. 8 is an inverted or bottom plan view of the covers;- and Fig. 9 is a detail cross section of the rack on the line 9-4). Fig. 4.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a suitable casing of general oval form in plan view and including the lower or.body member 1, and the upper or cover member 2 therefor, and forming together a chamber 3 in which the dishes are washed. The body member 1 may be supported in any convenient manner, for which purpose it is provided with a plurality, three being shown, of threaded openings 4 in itsbottom to receive adjustable feet 5 having rubber tips (3 to rest on the sink drain board or said threaded openings may be used to receive bolts or screws not shown for clamping the body to theframe of a portable support, such as illustrated in my prior application for dish washing machine and portable support therefor, filed December 1, 192-2, Serial No; 604,262. The side body walls slope downwardly toward the center and are curved, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, so as to drain to the central bottom, portion and avoid corners or angles in which dirt or foreign matter might collect. The upper edge of the side wall is suitably formed to (ill support the cover, such as by being provided with an outwardly extending flange 1 adapted to receive a circumferentially extending rubber gasket 8 of U-form in cross section. as shown in Fig. 3. A peripherally ex'lending flange 9 of the cover rests upon this gasket and is properly located and prevented from lmrizontal motion relative thereto by one or mere, two being shown, of dowel pins 10. lVhen in position the cover is clamped solidly in place by any suitable means, such as the members 11 hinged to the body and provided with clamping screws 12. These clamping members can be swung down to release position, asshown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, or may be turned up to clamping'position, shown in full lines, and the screws 12 turned down to clamp and seal the cover on the body and prevent any leakage along the joint between them. Either or both of the body and cover are provided with suitable handles 13 for lifting and carrying them and may also be provided with suitable means for indicating the level of liquid when the machine is closed, such as the'window 14.

The machine is also preferably provided with a suitable rack or racks for supporting the dishes properly spaced and in the necessary upright position for efiicient washing, although in some cases such racks are not esential. However, the racks are preferably detachable or removable as a unit to enable the machine to be used without them if desired. The rack shown in the drawings comprises a base including a pair of parallel longitudinally extending bars 15 connectin two end plates 16, said plates being recesse as shown in Fig. 9 to form feet 17 and to also extend over the rinsing pipe 18 hereafter referred to. Said rods 15 form supports for a series of wire spacing members distributed at intervals lengthwise of the washing chamber, each of said members consisting in the form shown, of a piece of wire bent to special form and having its opposite end portions suitably attached to the rods 15, such as by welding, soldering or other wise. The spacing members are of three distinct forms, numbered respectively 19. 20 and 21. Members 19. generally speaking, are of V-form with the wire bent to provide two upwardly and outwardly extending arms 22. while members 20 have the wire bent laterally just above the rods 15 to form horizontally extending arms 23 from which the wire extends upwardly toward the central longitudinal axis and then again upwardly to form a single upwardly extending arm 24. These two kinds of members 19 and 20 are spaced in alternate arrangement and furnish five rows of arms, to wit, the two lower arms 23 of members 20, the upper ams 22 of members 19, and the central arms 24 of members 20. At the ends of the chamber where the cover curves downwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. are located one or two of members 21, which are somewhat like members 19 but of slightly smaller form.

The rack described is convenient for arranging and supporting all the usual dishes in the average family meal. The large dinncr plates are place on edge, as at A, Fig.

, 5. facing a member 19. Small dinner plates,

saucers or like articles are placed upright in pairs, one on each side of the center and facing an arm 23 of member 20, as shown at B. Platters, vegetable dishes or similar dishes may be laid in the side of the cavity, as shown at C. while cups, glasses, pitchers and like hollow articles are hung over the upper arms, as indicated at D, to drain properly during rinsing.

Preferably the apparatus is also provided with a suitable separately removable rack or container for the silverware, such as a receptacle 25 having a foot ortion 26 extending down between the re s 15 and over'the pipe 18, the body portion of said container eing inclined laterally and upwardly as shown in Fig. 5, but being narrow in its dimcnsion lengthwise of the chamber, as shown in Fig. 4. This container may be provided with a bail or handle 27 for lifting it out.

The washing liquid is circulated over the dishes by passing air upwardly through the liquid. The propelling force for the current is an electric motor 27 of suitable form and properly wound and built to be operated from any ordinary light socket, the attachment cord for said motor being omitted for simplicity of illustration. Said motor has connected to its shaft :1 fan 28 of the centrifugal type and mounted to rotate in the fan chamber 29 preferably formed by walls connected or integral with the cover 2. The inlet to said fan chamber is an opening 30 concentric with the fan axis and lying above a suitable baflle plate 31 spaced from the fan casing by its supports 32 and adapted to prevent liquid from enteringthe fan chamber. The outlet from the fan chamber is a passage 33 formed within walls 34 extend ing inwardly from the wall of the cover, the end of said passage where the cover and body meet bein directly opposite and registering with an opening in a similar passage 35 formed by inwardly extending walls of the body 1. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the sealing gasket 8 is provided with an inward extension 36 so as to seal the joint atthe meeting ends of these passages. Passage 35 extends downwardly to the bottom of the body and communicates with a shallow channel or recess 37 extending longitudinally of the body and formed within an en- 'largement or extension there. To'distribute the air entering the washing chamber from passage 35 the opening 38 from'said passage into-channel 37 is preferably elongated as shown in Fig. 3, and also the channel 37 is provided with a cover or air trap 39, which is a sheet metal member suitably fastened in place and provided with a longitudinally extending slot or opening 39", the lips 40 of which are inclined downwardly as in Fig. 3 for a urpose to be later described.

The air circulating system operates upon suction rather than upon pressure principles and for this purpose the machine is provided with a vent to the atmosphere, specifically shown as an opening 41 in the cover communicating with the passage 33 therein. This may be a simple opening to the atmosphere but the'drawings show said opening provided with a bafiie member, such as the hollow member 42 having-an open sleeve 43 inserted in opening 41 and provided with an opening 44 in its top. Within said member is the cone 45 supported by several arms 46 extending out to the casing of said member and suitably secured thereto such as by soldering, brazing or the like.

The rinsing device is? the pipe 18 before referred to. Said pipe extends longitudinally through the washing chamber near its bottom and lies directly over the slot 3!)".

It is provided with a series of longitudinally site end is provided with a threaded plug 49 to seal that end of the pipe and for other purposes to appear. On the hose end of the pi e is a collar 50 having an operating hand e 51 and beyond which is a sealing gasket 52. At its opposite end the pipe is provided with a sealing gasket 53 backed by a compression spring 54 within a cupshaped member 55 capable of adjustment by a knurled nut 56 on the threaded portion of plug 49. With this arrangement assembly of the parts as shown in the drawings enables both gaskets to be pulled up tight to seal the joints by adjustment of the knurled nut 56, leaving the rinsing pipe free for rotation around its own axis by manipu lation of the handle 51.

The rinsing pipe is preferably also so arranged as to rinse the air passages. For this purpose said pipe, opposite the air inlet 31, is provided with a -surroundlng hol low jacket or casing 57 supported on plate 39, the annular channel 58 in which communicates with a small pipe 59 attached to the jacket and extending upwardly into channel where it terminates in a nozzle 60. One of the small openings in pipe 18 is within a channel 58 to supply water to the rinsing nozzle 60.

Floor 61 of the channel 38 inclines downwardly toward one end'of the machine, so that said channel serves as a drainage trough leading to an outlet 62 closed by any suitable means, such as the plug or cork 63 clamped between a washer 64.- and a shallow protecting cap 65. This cork is bodily removable to open the drain outlet. The machine may also be provided with another air inlet, such as the opening 66 in. the-wall of the cover. Suitable adjustable means is preferably provided for controlling said opening. For this purpose" a .fitting 67 is attached to the cover and is provided with arms supportin a'centrally disposed thread ed hub 68 in w hich is a threaded shank 69 (arrying a cap 70 having a gasket 71 on its inner face. The purpose of this cover will later appear. y

m In operation of themachine the cover is removed and the dishes or other articles to be washed are placed within the washing chamber properly"located and supported by the rack and silver tray, as before described.

. Plates, platters, vegetable dishes and the like are usuallyplaced withtheir main surfaces vertical, while the hollow dishes, such as cups, pitchers and the like are inverted, so that all surfaces on which foreign substance has collected or is likely to collect will readily drain during the rinsing operation. A proper quantity of a suitable detergent, such as soap chips, liquid, or powdered soap, and if-nec'essary. a water softener, such as borax, soda or the like. arcplaced in the washing chamber and the cover is applied and clamped on the body by screwing up the several clamping members, as described. A hose coupled to the threaded portion of the spray pipe 18 is connected with a source of water, preferably hot water, such as the hot water faucet or the combination faucet of in ordinary sink. The drain plug is inserted and valve is closed. The Water supply is then turned on and yater is allowed to flow intothe machine until-it is approximately half full, more or less. It is usually sufiicient it' the level of water is allowed to rise just above the'lower edge of the window 14 and other things being equal less Water is better than more. The water of course, enters the machine through the restricted orifices in the spray pipe 18 and handle 51 can be turned so that said orifices direct the streams either upwardly into the washing chamber or downwardly through -the air slot 39. When the proper water level is reached. the motor is coupled to an ordinary light socket so that the motor' drives the fan. As will be clear from Fig. 5 the water level in channel 35 is the same as in the main washing chamber. The effect of the fan is to produce suction in the air chamber above the level of water therein. Air is drawn out from said chamber by the fan and forced out through passage 33 in the 'cover. The suction efiect above the water causes the water to rise in the washing chamber and the water in channel 35 to flow downwardly until finally the water column is broken and air enters the channel 37 through the inlet 38. This air is at atmospheric pressure due to the open vent to the atmosphere at 41. When a1r enters the channel 37 it rises on both sides of the slot 39 in member 39 and becomes trapped beneath the body of said member and on either side otthe lips 40, so that the first efi'ect 1s to trap a relatively small quantity of a1r beneath member 39 and extending the full length thereof or from end to end of the machine. Additional air flowing 1n bubbles out under the edges or lips of the slot and rises through said slot'and through the a1r in'the washing chamber, but as the pressure throughout the trapped air is uniform, the tendency of the air to pass around the slot edges is uniform throughout its length, so that the air supply is uniformlydistributed throughout the full length of the machine, the resultant effect being to produce a state of' artificial ebullition with air rising through-the water from end to end of the machine and thoroughly agitating said.

water and distributing it over the dishes,

thereby cleansing and freeing them from foreign matter. Usually in operation the III) machine runs with a sort of surge. In other words. the column of water 111 passage lou'ersuntil air enters the washing chamber and when the suction eil'ect 1S satisfied some water flows back into passage 35 after which the suction effect is again produced with renewed entrance of air beneath the water. This washing operation is continued for a proper length of time to thoroughly wash the dishes, usually a matter of five to ten minutes, whereupon the motor is stopped and the drain plug is removed. all liquid being allowed to flow into the sink or to a convenient sewer. It will be noted that dur-' ing the washing operation there is practically no liability of leakage. of liquid or soap suds to the outside of the machine, the chamber in which the liquid or soap suds is contained is under suction so that all leakage is inward rather than outward.

.Uter draining hot water is again turned on and clear water again enters the machine through the restricted orifices in pipe 18. Handle 51 is turned back and forth to rotate the spray pipe and direct the several streams of water upwardly and toward and .against both sides of the washing chamber so that it is sprayed thoroughly over all of the dishes and all surfaces contacted by the liquid. Handle 51 may also be turned downwardly and the streams directed through the slot 39 to flush out the drainage channel. During this rinsing operation a stream of water is also directedup through the passage 35 from nozzle and said passage is.

also rinsed. The rinse water is allowed to flow out and valve is opened by rotating it and thereby unscrewing its threaded stem 6!), causing the valve to rise from its seat on member 67. The fan is again started. The suction effect in the chamber is now satisfied bv the flow of air into said chamber through the opening 66. Said air flows to the fan chamber and is discharged through passages and 35 to the lower part of the washing chamber. Air flows out through both the vent 41 and the drain outlet 62, part of the air being circulated again andagain through the chamber and part of it flowing out through said outlets. The effect of this circulated air is to rapidly dry theidishes so that upon removal of the cover they can be taken out and stored away for further use.

Preferably. the motor and fan are formed so as to be handled as a unit by attachmentof the rotating fan member directly to the end of the motor shaft. The motor is also mounted to have slight yield relative to the supporting cover. This effect is obtained in the form shown by providing the motor casing or frame with ,an annular groove 72 to receive a gasket 7 3 which rests upon the cover. Above said channel the wa l of the motor frame has a tapered. or flaring portion 74 to receive a gasket 7 5 on which rests the clamping member 76 adapted to be clamped down to the cover wall by screws 77, as shownin Fig. 6. With this arrangement there is no direct contact of metal to metal between the motor and fan unit and the cover, so that vibration is largely eliminated and no objectionable,

extended and lyin at a lower level than the top of said chaniher, whereby air may be trapped and held in said chamber by the sealing effect of water in said space, and means for causing air to enter said chamber and thereby pass the edges of said orifice and rise through the water in said space.

2. A dishwashing machine, comprising a casing provided in its lower portion with an air trapping chamber communicating with .the space in said casing through an inlet orifice, the edges of said orifice being extended and lying at a lower level tlian the top of said chamber, whereby air may be trapped and held insaid chamber by the sea ing effect of water in said space, means for causing air to enter said chamber and thereby pass the edges of said orifice and rise through the water in said space, said chamber being provided with a drainage outlet, and a water supply pipe lying above said orifice 'and adapted to direct water downwardly therethrough for flushing out J said chamber.

3. A dishwashing machine, comprising a casing provided in its lower portion with a drainage channel, a slotted plate lying over said channel with the edge portions of its slot extending downwardly and forming an airdistributing chamber, and means for introducin air to said chamber.

4. A ishwashing machine, comprising a casing provided in its lower portion with a longitudinally extending air distributing chamber communicating with a source of air supply and with the space in said casing through a slot, and a water supply pipe above said slot and provided with means distribntedalong its length for directing water downwardly therethrough.

5. A dishwashing machine, comprising a casing provided, in its lower portion with a longitudinally extending air distributing chamber communicating with the space in said casing through a slot and having a drain outlet, a water su ply pipe having a portion lying above ai slot and provided with means distributed along its length for directing rinsing water downwardly therethrough, an air supply conduit connecting said chamberto the upper portion of said casing, and said pipe being also provided with means for directing rinsing water upwardly into said conduit.

- 6. A dishwashing 'maehine, comprising a j Ivided initslower portion with an elongated orifice communicating with, an air supply,

and ahorizontally extending pipe in said,

space near said orifice and communicating with water supply meansand provided with a series of per orations along one side, said pipe being rotatably. mounted in said casingand thereby adjustable to twopositions to either direct rinsing water from said per-- forations into said orifice or to distribute it through said space. p

7. A dlshwashing machine, comprlslng a casing having a dlsh receiving space provided in its lower portion with anyelongated air supply orifice, a horizontally extending pipe in said space near said orifice and communicating with water supply means a and provided with a series of perforations along one side, said pipe being rotatably mounted in said casing and thereby adjustable to two positions to either direct rinsing water from said perforations into said orifice or to distribute it through said space, an air supply conduit for said orifice,- and rinsing: means for said conduit communicatiIIg-WIth and unafie'cted by rotation of said pipe in said casing.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature. I

PERCY E. BARKER. 

